did you ever see the episode
of Twilight Zone
with an old man
and his hound dog Rip?
hyder and
rip die
in the water
after hunting
a raccoon
and wake up
by the pond
together
following a fence
to gates
that lead
into the afterlife
but dogs are
not allowed
so he keeps
walking
and even though
it was a trick
and men will walk right
into hell with both eyes open
i think of hyder
prepared
to sacrifice
his heaven
for a friend
because
what joy
is there in paradise
what happiness
exists
without the ones
we love?
© Ben Ditmars 2022
#poetry inspired by a prompt by @karigunterseymour#ohiopoetlaureate#npm
The Midnight Writer 